1. Association football — Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo
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Association football is the most popular sport in the world, with an estimated 250 million participants. The FIFA World Cup is the most widely seen event in the world and the 1950 match between Uruguay and Brasil retains the attendance record for a team sport (an estimated 210,000 spectators). Association football has come to signify the greatest level of athletic excellence and competitiveness. Many people believe Brasilian legend Pele to be the finest footballer ever. He is the greatest scorer ever, scoring 1281 goals in 1363 games. However, as football has grown, the game’s strategy has followed. Some feel it is harder to score a goal in 2012 than ever before.
The Athletes
Lionel Messi is an Argentine footballer who plays for FC Barcelona. He is presently just 24 years old, and is considered as the finest soccer player in the world. Messi won the FIFA Ballon d’Or (World Player of the Year) in both 2010 and 2011, and the Ballon d’Or in 2009. He is one of just two players to win three straight MVP Awards, the other being Michel Platini. Lionel is noted for his ball handling, selfless play, trick shots, and amazing accuracy.
In 2012, Messi scored five times in a UEFA Champions League match and completed the season with 60 goals. It was the first time that a player had finished with 60 goals in a European league since Gerd Müller in 1972-73. Messi also owns the goal scoring record for FC Barcelona, with a total of 243 goals. He is the obvious favorite to win a fourth straight Ballon d’Or in 2012.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese footballer who plays for Real Madrid. He is one of the most paid sportsmen in the world ($400,000 per match), and owns a contract buyout clause of €1 billion. Ronaldo is a phenomenal goal scorer, and is recognised for his acrobatic dribbling ability and strength. He is a tenacious striker, who seldom misses chances to score. Behind Messi, Ronaldo is acknowledged as the finest soccer player in the world. In 2008, he won the Ballon d’Or. In 2011-12, Ronaldo scored 56 times in European league action and led La Liga with 42 goals.
2. Summer Olympics – Usain Bolt vs. Ryan Lochte bolt-lochte
The 2012 Summer Olympics will take held in London from July 27 to August 12, 2012. Many of the ceremonies will be held in a new 200 hectare Olympic Park located in east London. It is the first time that London has hosted the Summer Olympics since 1948 and it should be a fantastic display. In the 2008 games, the United States won 110 medals, followed by China (100), Russia (72), Great Britain (47), Australia (46), and Germany (41).
The official mascots for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games are Wenlock and Mandeville. The medals were designed by David Watkins and manufactured at the Royal Mint. The Opening event is themed “The Isles of Wonder”, and a short film featuring Daniel Craig as James Bond will be broadcast throughout coverage of the event. The games will include 26 different sports in 39 categories.
The Athletes
Usain Bolt is a Jamaican sprinter and the fastest man in the world. He now owns the record time in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, and the 4×100 meters relay. Bolt is 1.95m (6’5”), and runs with long strides. He is the most explosive athlete in the world and arguably the fastest guy to ever engage in competition. At the 2011 World Championship in Daegu, Bolt was eliminated from the 100m final after a false start, but captured first place in both the 200m and relay races. At the 2012 Olympics, Bolt’s biggest challenge will be his teammate, Yohan Blake.
For the last two years, a man named Ryan Lochte has dominated international swimming competition. He was voted the top Swimmer of the Year in 2010 and 2011, and is a top level athlete. Similar to Ian Thorpe in Athens and Michael Phelps in Beijing, Ryan Lochte has a chance to create history in London. Lochte is older than teammate Michael Phelps yet, as of June 2012 has just three Olympic gold medals.
At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Lochte is set to participate in a wide variety of events, and might win a couple of gold medals. Before 2011, Phelps defeated Lochte in every international event however, when Ryan beat his buddy he said: “Once I was able to beat Michael, it gave me a motivation, an edge. I told myself, I can do this. Once I defeat someone, they won’t beat me again.”
3. American Football – Aaron Rodgers vs. Calvin Johnson
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American football is the most popular sport in the United States. It is a violent game that is full of action, violence, and passion. The regulations may be traced to early iterations of association football and rugby. In 2011, the average attendance for an NFL game was 66,960 spectators, making it the most attended sport in the world. In addition, the 2011 Super Bowl was the most-watched American television show in history with 111 million people. Super Bowl Sunday has been renowned for enormous parties, wonderful food, and jubilation. The Super Bowl is the second-largest day of food consumption in the U.S. behind Thanksgiving.
The Athletes
On the football field, the quarterback is the most crucial position. In 2012, the top quarterback in the NFL is Aaron Rodgers, who plays for the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers led the Packers to a 15-2 record in 2011 and was awarded the AP Male Athlete of the Year. Since taking over for Brett Favre, Rodgers has become the NFL’s career leader in the area of passer rating.
He is a terrific athlete who can send a football with precise accuracy. Rodgers possesses one of the strongest arms in the game, and has become noted for his rapid mechanics. In 2012, Aaron Rodgers is expected to earn the NFL MVP for the second consecutive year. He has a minor lead over other great quarterbacks such as Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford, Eli Manning, Michael Vick, and Cam Newton.
Calvin Johnson is one of the top wide receivers in the NFL. He is 6’5” (1.96 m) and has incredible leaping ability and enormous hands. In 2007, Johnson was picked by the Detroit Lions and has since evolved into a quality athlete. The presence of Calvin Johnson on the football field has led defensive coordinators to change their defensive plan. He routinely encounters double coverage, which opens the field up for quarterback Matthew Stafford. In 2012, Johnson got one of the richest contracts in sports history, when he agreed to a 7-year, $132 million dollar agreement. He will get almost $1 million every game for the following seven years.